09/02/2026
What does a building designed for discovery look like?
At the University of Pennsylvania, the Physical Sciences Building is designed to bring disciplines, people, and ideas together. The 325,000-square-foot complex will create a new home for Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science, combining advanced research and teaching environments with spaces that encourage collaboration across traditional academic boundaries.
Flexible laboratories are adaptable spaces that are equipped to meet future scientific research needs, while classrooms, maker spaces, a science library, and a 120-seat colloquium auditorium support learning at every scale.
At its heart, a large first-floor commons will serve as an academic town square. Nearby, a two-story lobby provides ample daylight and visually connects the building’s interior to the surrounding landscape.
Designed by CO Architects, the Physical Sciences Building creates a flexible new nexus for the next generation of scientific discovery at Penn.
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